Cooks, Fast Food Salary in McAllen, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

Median annual salary $26,740 -11.3% vs national
Median hourly $12.86
10th percentile $18,650
90th percentile $35,070
Employed locally 1,040
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how McAllen, TX stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cooks, Fast Food
in
McAllen, TX
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $18,650
    25th
    $21,930
    50th (median)
    $26,740
    75th
    $31,700
    90th
    $35,070

    McAllen economic context

    Unemployment rate 6.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $52,281 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 49% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $29,850
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $29,050
    Midland, TX $28,530
    Longview, TX $27,940
    Odessa, TX $27,830
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $27,380

    Related occupations in McAllen, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $22,690
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,900
    Food Preparation Workers $23,810
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $29,850
    Cooks, Restaurant $27,950
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $22,320

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in McAllen?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in McAllen, TX is $12.86, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.86 or more per hour.

    Is McAllen above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in McAllen, TX is 11.3% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in McAllen?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $18,650 per year in McAllen, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $21,930.